Discharge for drac conveyers



Rfiay 23, 1933 H 5, g E

DISGHARGE FOR DRAG convEYEns Filed. Jazz. 6, 1932 HNVEINTQR BY A244,

Patented May 23, 1933 E, GE BRGOKLYN, 5563K, AiSIG'NOE TO THE WESTERN UNEON CDE-IPANY, CF NEW YGEZK,

IT. Y., A CGRPORATEGN 01' l DISCHARGE FOB; CDNVEYERS Application filed January S,

or carry ng the material between a conveyer fig einent therewith.

his invention has for an object to provide means for discharging sheets of material at one or more intermediate positions along the 10' convcyer channel.

In certain instances, more particularly where a conveyer of the drag type is employ d for the distribution of telegram blanks, messages and the like, it may be de- 1'5- sirabl to discharge message blanks from the c nveycr at one point at certain times and at another point other times. VVhenit occurs that one or more of the desired discharge points i located along an intermediate secer channel it is desirable i .id point or convey u l point to some other harge without any interruption normal operation of the conveyor. cording this inventionsuchan arrangebe provided by an opening in the channel with means for causing the i to be discharged through opening or continue across said openi when it is not desired that the material should be discharged at that point. Such arrangement may embody a removable section of conveyor channel whiclris taken the chan= and which is replaced when it is material should continue along the conveyor beyond that point. An-

other arr-a gement embodies a. relatively 40 short opening in the conveyer channel across which sheets of material will normally pass as they travel along the conveyer channel in combination with discharge deflector means which may be disposed atthe opening to cause the sheets to pass through the opening and be discharged.

Another object of this invention-is therefore to provide a discharge opening in an intermediate section of the conveyer channel and means cooperating with the discharge n... nel and a belt traveling in frictional en-- V out for cischarging material at that point in Serial cause the material to be dis thereat or to pass beyond the openas desred.

ll ese and other objects will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing formin a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an arrangement in which the discharge opening is bridged by a removable section;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bridging member removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an arrangement provided with a relatively short discharge opening and a cooperating deflector movable into position to cause material to be discharged at said opening; and

Fig. l is a si. lilill view with the deflectors disposed in discharge position.

Referring to Fig. 1 the arrangement comprises a longitudinally extending conveyer channel 10 embodying a horizontal central section 12 with outwardly flaring side portions 13 and 14-. A conveyer belt 15 is disposed to travel along the horizontal central portion of the conveyer channel in substantially continuous frictional engagement therewith for conveying sheets of material between it and the channel. However, other types of channel members may be employed.

In order to provide for discharging material at an intermediate point, the channel member 10 is terminated substantially vertically above a discharge receptacle 16. At a point longitudinally spaced from this terminus, the conveyer channel is continued with channel section 11. This space is bridged by a removable section 17. At the beginning of the continuation, the channel member 11 is flattened out and bent downward to form an inletlip. The removable section is arranged to be supported on this lip and held in place by apin or dowel 18. The other end of the removable section is supported by means of a tongue or extension 19 fitted into a stirrup member 20.

When it is desired to discharge material, section 17 is removed and a deflector member 21- is lowered'trom the position illustrated'in Fig. 1 to that illustrated in Fig. 2 to direct the sheets into the receptacle 16. The deflector member embodies a movable pivoted section 22 hinged to a stationary section 23 at the forward end of the deflector. The section 23 is held in spaced relation to the conveyer channel by being secured to a structural beam 24. The space between the deflector and the channel member is suflicient to permit the belt 15 to travel freely therebetween and to permit the overhanging edges of the sheets to pass between the outer edges of the deflector plate and the channel member. The rearward end of the deflector is slotted to form a pair of arms 25 spaced sufliciently apart to extend along opposite sides of the belt 15. The outer ends of the arms are curved downward toward the receptacle 16. The arms are extended outward horizontally a slight distance before being curved downward in order to permit the sheets which are held in a non-planiform shape as they travel along the channel to extend beyond the end of the channel member before being directed downward by the curved portions of the arms. However, this provision would be unnecessary if the outer end of section 10 were flattened out SL' bstantially as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

At such times as it is not desired to discharge material at the break or opening in the conveyer channel the deflector member will be raised to inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1 and secured in such position by a retaining element 24 arranged to be hooked over a bar 27. The section 17 is then reinserted in place to bridge the opening as shown in Fig. 1. Sheets of material arriving at the bridged opening will pass over the removable section on to the continued part of the conveyer channel, thence to the desired destination.

This embodiment may be arranged to accommodate and discharge material of substantially increased bull: by spacing the fixed end 23 of the deflector plate a greater distance from the conveyer channel and by inclining the deflector so that its rearward end assumes substantially normal positionat the discharge point. With such an arrangement, when material of increased bulk is to be discharged, the outward end of the pivoted section will merely rise to ride upon the belt as it rises to accommodate the material being conveyed.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this arrangement there is no removable section of the conveyer channel to provide for the discharge arrangement. Instead an opening in the nature of a slot 30, embodied between a section of the conveyer channel 31 extending in one direction, and another section 32 extending in the opposite direction provides a discharge point. The adjacent ends of the conveyer channels are flattened out and bent downwardly at their tips to provide curved lips 33 and 34. The slot 30 is embodied between the downwardly extending curved lips. A receptacle 16 may be provided below the slot for catching the material discharged through the slot. A conveyer belt 35 travels along the central portion of the conveyer channel sections.

From the foregoing arrangement oi the second embodiment as just described, it is obvious that if the leading edge of sheets of material traveling across the discharge opening or slot 30 were caused to be directed downwardly as they arrived at the slot, discharge of the sheets would occur. Provision is made for causing this to take place by a discharge deflector arrangement 36 supported on a bar or shaft 37 movable in a bracket 38 positioned to hold the deflector member vertically over the discharge slot 30 and arranged so that the deflector may be moved up and down to set the same into and out of operative position. The deflector member 36 comprises a pair of outwardly extending pointed plates 39 slotted at their inner ends to form a pair of arms 41 and 4-2, spaced apart at a distance slightly greater than t e width of the belt 35. The arms 41 and 42 of the respective deflector plates are curved down from horizontal to a vertical position and joined together where they intersect to form a single pair of downwardly extending spaced members 43 and 44.

lVhen it is desired to cause the sheets to be discharged through the slot 30 into the receptacle 16, the deflector member 36 is lowered from the position shown in 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. In the position shown in the latter figure, the arms 43 and extend down through the slot 30 on opposite sides oi? the belt 35. While the horizontal pointed plates 39 are held in spaced relation to the channel sections 31 and 32 and above the belt 35, there is suflicient space between the deflector and the conveyer channel to permit the belt 35 to travel freely between the two members. It will be observed that in operative position the curved portion of the arms 41 and 42 are positioned with respect to the curved lips 33 and 34 to form a guideway or channel between the two members extending downward toward the receptacle 16. From this it will appear that sheets of material a pproaching the discharge opening 30 from either direction in which the conveyor belt 35 may be traveling will have their leading edges directed downwardly by the curved portion of the joined arms of the deflector and in this manner the whole sheet will be directed into the slot or opening 30 instead of continuing along the conveyer. The belt being in substantially continuous contact with the bottom of the respective channel sections up to the opening, will carry the sheet forward through the discharge channel provided as set forth, causing the sheets to be I v v J R ooiious, non ei er, teat tn ment at the end of the forwardly e effectively dischar 'ed without any hestitation or interruption with the normal function of the conveyor belt. \"i hen it is desired continue along raised to tie posit-i 11 shown in ting ie mateiial that the mat-eri il should lint? 1 I a and also to the 1 T 1 l c veis along one by reIerri n3;

l of the chann l i formed substantial..y alike. apparent that the convey equally as eilec From i-DlS may be operated r 1 ort sheets in either direction, whereas, the embodiment shown in 1 and 2 provides for these traveling in one 6 irection only.

nrst embodiment could likewise be adapted to carry sheets in either direction by suitably modifying removable section of the conveyor 1'? a-n i l disposing a discharge deflector ac-"ange- T r it In char rel section 11.

ill be observed that elopes. bun ies of sheets or the like could be cir charged by this type of arrangement by suit-- b ullry ably enlarging the opening 30 corre-- 3T d 38, when a body of relatively bull spondingly modifving the deflector arms of the member Furthermore, the deflector member being movable up and down by means of the shaft a .d bracket arrangement material arrives at the discharge whi would not easily pass between the conveyor and the channel with the deflector in its -norr; al position, the deflector readily rises from its normal position as the material enters the passageway between it and the chair nel and directs the material through the slot tion, the arrangement would be equally as effective if the conveyors were disposed in any other position.

it will be observed further that although the invention is shown as providing discharge means at an intermediate point in the conveyer, a similar arrangement might be employed to discharge sheets at the terminal of a conveyer where it is desired that the sheets of material be deflected abruptly from their normal course of travel as they leave the end of the conveyor. With a conveyer disposed to transport material in a substantially vertical direction, a discharge arrangement employing the principles of this invention might be employed to cause the sheets to be deflected or discharged from the conveyor belt sidewi e into a suitable receptacle. It will be further observed that such a discharge arrangement will readily accommodate the discharge of material of varying bulk, a mat ter of significance in connection with the adaptation of this type of arrangement to various conditions.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that a conveyor discharge arrangement has been provided which may be adapted to charge material either at any suitable intermediate point along a conveyor of the drag type or at the terminal of such con- Veyer.

Although the invention has been illustrated as providing for the material to be carried along a conveyor channel one element of which is a stationary support, it is obvious that it is equally applicable to conveyors provided with other types of channels.

While this invention has been shown in but two forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In a drag conveyor for sheet material, the combination of a conveyor belt and a support along which the belt travels for conveying sheet material between it and the support, said support being terminated near a point at which material may be discharged, yieldab-ly supported deflector means adjacent said opening, said deflector means comprising plate disposed at the outer face of belt, said plate embodying lateral edges extending astride the belt to a point beyond the inner face thereof, said edges being disposed angularly from the inner face of the belt to form a surface for peeling the sheets of material from said inner surface and directing the sheets transversely away from the belt as they arrive at the discharge point.

2. In a conveyor for sheet material, the combination of a conveyor belt and a cooperating member for maintaining the sheets in engagement with the inner face of the belt, said member being discontinued at a discharge point, said belt being continued beyond said discharge point, and deflector means comprising a movably supported plate member disposed at the outer surface of the belt, said plate embodying a forwardly eX- tending tapered section arranged to unfold sheets which may have become folded over the belt before arriving at the discharge point, said plate also embodying lateral edges extending astride the belt and beyond the inner face thereof to form a surface for peeling the sheets of material from the belt as they arrive at the discharge point.

In a conveyer for sheet material, the combination of a conveyor belt and a support along which the belt travels for conveying sheets of material between it and the support, said support being severed at a point in its intermediate portion to provide a discharge opening through which eets of material may pass, deflector 111Gslilfl7fibl0 into and out of said opening, said mean being arranged when disposed in said opening to divert the sheets from the conveyer through the opening, means to support the deflector in operative and inoperative positions, and a removable section insertable between the ends of the support at said opening for bridging the same wow the deflector means is in inoperative position.

l. in a conveyor for sheet material, the combination of a conveyer belt and a support along which the belt travels for conveying sheets of material between it and the support, said support being severed at point in its intermediate portion to provide a transverse discharge opening through which sheets of material may pass and a deflector into and out of said opening, said shiftable means arranged when disposed in said open ing to divert the sheets from the conveyor through the opening, the ends of said support adjacent said opening being, spaced apart a cistance substantially less than the length of the sheets whereby when the de flector is in inoperative position the sheets of material will be conve' ed across the opening with substantially no interruptions of their normal travel.

5. In a conveyer for sheet material, the combination of a conveyor belt operable to traer in either direction and a channel mem ber embod ing a central portion and upwardly flaring side portions, said bel being arranged to travel along said central portion for conveying sheets of material held in a non-planiform shape between it and the sup port, said channel being severed at a point in its intermediate portion to provide a transverse discharge opening through which sheets of material may pass, the ends of said channel at opposite sides of said opening being similarly flattened out for permitting the sheets of material to assume a substantially planiform shape as they arrive at the opening, and deflector means embodying similar plate members extending in opposite directions and joined together to form, when disposed over said opening, means to divert the sheets of material from the conveyor through said opening when the conveyor belt is tra-Yding in either direction.

6. In a conveyor for sheet material, the combination of a conveyor belt and a support along which the belt travels for conveying sheets of material between it and the support, said support being severed at a point along its intermediate portion to provide a transverse discharge opening through which sheets of material may pass, and deflector means shiftable into and out of said opening, said means oeing arranged when disposed in said opening to divert sheets of material fro: 1 the convoyer through the opening, and mea for movably supporting the deflector so that it may move upwardi e support with the belt for accomting the discharge of material of increased bulk.

T. In a drag conveyer for sheetmaterial, the co .ibination of a conveyor belt and a su port along which the belt travels, for conin 3; sheet material between it and the suppoit, said support being terminated near a point which material may be discharged, deflector means adjacent said point comprising a plate disposed at the outer face of the belt and embodying lateral edges extending astride he belt and beyond the inner face thereof, said edges being disposed angularly from the inner face of the belt to form a surface for deflecting the sheets of material transversely away from the belt as they arrive at the discharge point.

8. In a conveyor for sheet material, the combination of a conveyer belt and a support along which the belt travels for conveying sheets of material between it and the support, said support being severed at a point in its intermediate portion to provide a trans verse discharge opening over which sheets of material will normally pass but through which they may be discharged, a deflector embodying depending elements movable into said opening to divert the sheets from the conveyers therethrough, means for guiding the deflector from operative to inoperative position so that the depending portions move into ant.L out of said opening with substantially no component of motion longitudinally of the support.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

HAROLD G. LIFE. 

